After the release of "All Things Must Pass" in 1970 George Harrison responded to a request from Ravi Shankar in 1971 to organise a charity event voor Bangladesh. Bangladesh was suffering heavy floodings while they were still fighting to become a seperate state which resulted in many refugees. Besides the Bhola cyclone which already resulted in a large devastation many people became homeless. The concert took place on 1 August 1971 in New York's Madison Square Garden. The show included many famous artists like Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton, Leon Russel, Badfinger, Billy Preston and fellow Beatle Ringo Starr. A triple album was released from the concert and reached #2 in the US. The single "Bangladesh" reached #10 in the UK and #7 in the Netherlands. The concert was not only important for Bangladesh but also for his solo career. He then took a break of 2 years. At the end of 1971 he produced singles for Ringo Starr and Apple label artists: Lon & Derrek Van Eaton. Then in 1972 he helped to promote the Ravi Shankar documentary "Raga" and produce his song "When Every Song Is Sung" for Cilla Black. He also recorded 2 songs with Harry Nilsson in 1972.
Ravi Shankar and George Harrison in 1972 |
Single cover "Bangladesh" / "Deep Blue" |
During this time his devotion to Hindy spirituality and especially Krishna consciousness reached new heights. On the other hand he had a passion for high speed cars which resulted in crash with his Mercedes into a roundabout at 90 miles an hour with his wife Pattie Boyd in the passenger seat. He lost his driving license for this incident.
Single cover "Give Me Love" / "Miss O'Dell" |
In 1973 George Harrison released his fourth studio album titled "Living In The Material World". It his second album with vocals since his first 2 albums were mainly instrumental. Many other titles were offered before releasing the album like "The Light That Has Lighted the World" and "The Magic Is Here Again". The single "Give Me Love (Give Me Peace on Earth)" became a worldwide hit that reached #8 in the UK, #8 in the Netherlands and #1 in the UK. The album managed to reach #2 in the UK, #5 in the Netherlands and #1 in the US. The lyrics of the album reflects George's struggle for spiritual enlightenment against his status as a superstar. For many people he sings at his best on the album.
George Harrison 1973 |
Only one song was a left over from his previous album titled "Try Some, Buy Some". Both "The Lord Loves the One" and the album's title track were directly inspired by Prabhupada's teachings. Prabhupada is the founder of the Hare Krishna movement. On "Give Me Love" Harrison blended the Hindu bhajan style (devotional song) with Western gospel music like he did before on "My Sweet Lord". In the songs "The Light That Has Lighted the World", "Who Can See It" and "Be Here Now" he talks about his desire to live in the present, free of his former identity within the Beatles. Other song themes were about the history of the Beatles and can be heared in "Living in the Material World" and "Sue Me, Sue You Blues". That last song was his comment on McCartney's 1971 High Court action to dissolve the band as a business entity. The albums holds some love songs in "That Is All" and "Don't Let Me Wait Too Long" sung by George like it came from above!
Harrison donated his copyright for nine of the eleven songs on Living in the Material World together with the non-album B-side "Miss O'Dell" to his Material World Charitable Foundation.
All glories to Sri Krsna!
Inner sleeve LP |
The album cover presents a Kirlian photograph of Harrison's hand holding a Hindu medallion. On the back Harrison instead holds three US coins: a couple of quarters and a silver dollar. So the front cover represents the spiritual world and the back the material world. In the inner cover we can see Harrison and his fellow musicians: Ringo Starr (drums), Jim Horn (horns/flutes), Klaus Voormann (bass/keyboards), Nicky Hopkins (piano/organ), Jim Keltner (drums) and Gary Wright (keyboards) at a long table with food and wine. A parody of da Vinci's The Last Supper.
Inside cover photo in colour |
Original album cover |
Living In The Material World (1973)
Give Me Love (Give Me Peace on Earth) / Sue Me, Sue You Blues / The Light That Has Lighted the World / Don't Let Me Wait Too Long / Who Can See It? / Living in the Material World / The Lord Loves the One (That Loves the Lord) / Be Here Now / Try Some, Buy Some / The Day the World Gets 'Round / That Is All
Give Me Love (Give Me Peace On Earth)
Bangladesh
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